“This is really a huge step that Dr. [A.] Dennis Sparger, who is the conductor of The Bach Society – and Melissa Payton, who is the executive director, took for diversity,” said jazz diva Denise Thimes. “They didn’t have to do this.”
Thimes will serve as host and featured performer for the 67th annual The Bach Society of Saint Louis Chorus & Orchestra Christmas Candlelight Concert presented by Emerson on Tuesday, December 11 at 7:30 p.m. at Powell Symphony Hall.
The concert was hailed as one of the “Top 20 Live Christmas Events in North America” by BBC Music Magazine. In addition to Thimes, this year’s show also will feature Soprano Emily Birsan and baritone Ian Greenlaw open the concert with Mendelssohn’s angelic cantata “Vom Himmel hoch” as well as the St. Louis Children’s Choirs, under the direction of Barbara Berner.
“I think it gives a nice variety for whatever you’re interested in,” Payton told St. Louis Public Radio about the concert back in 2013. “If you’re interested in the classics, you get to hear a little bit of that. But a lot of people really love to come and just hear Christmas carols. And the candlelight processional, where we travel through singing down the aisle – that’s always a special time during the concert that everyone looks forward to.”
Sparger agrees.
“This concert was created by our founder in 1951 by our founder and the format still works so well today,” he added. “There are multiple generations of people that come and have been coming for decades to this concert and wouldn’t think of missing it. It’s truly a St. Louis tradition.”
Thimes is thrilled to make her debut as part of the tradition – and that her fan base is onboard to step outside of their box of jazz, R&B, blues and soul and offer their support by attending.
“‘Girl, you are going to be performing with the Bach Society…well then, I’m going to get my tickets,’” Thimes said. “That’s the response I’ve been getting. I have been so pleased and somewhat overwhelmed.”
The minister of music at her home church of New Sunny Mount Missionary Baptist – a classically trained composer and professor of music – had some encouraging words when she heard Thimes was a part of this year’s program.
“Dr. Anita Watkins Stevens saw me at church on Sunday and said, “‘Okay, Bach Society…that’s huge,’” Thimes said.
“Once you think you have taken all of your giant steps, God puts another giant step in your life, in your career and in your musical moment.
This is another musical moment that I can say ‘thank you’ to my God – and thank you to the powers that be at The Bach Society for thinking enough of me to say, ‘we want to do this with you.’”
Thimes attended last year’s concert and is over-the-moon that she and her musical director Adaron “Pops” Jackson will be a part of the experience for 2018.
“It’s an old time Christmas spirit feeling,” Thimes said. “When that snow was coming down Tuesday and I was in my car singing ‘Sleigh bells ring – are you listening?’ That’s also what I felt at the show last year.
“You know that feeling you got as a child when you got everything on your Christmas list? That’s how this concert will make you feel.”
The 67th annual The Bach Society of Saint Louis Chorus & Orchestra Christmas Candlelight Concert presented by Emerson and featuring Denise Thimes will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 11 at Powell Symphony Hall, 718 N. Grand Blvd. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.powellhall.com or through the Powell Hall box office: 314-534-1700.
